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I’m just sat on the train to London listening to mp3 music downloaded from iTunes on my iPhone through my AirPods and remembering when buying music was a joy a pastime and an art. I’m talking back in the 70’s. You hear a song you liked on you trannie, perhaps on radio Luxembourg or maybe Caroline or possibly Top of the Pops and come Saturday afternoon, cause that was always the time, you’d get your pocket money and go to top to the local record shop, to spend hours not only looking for the single or LP that you wanted, but rifling through hundreds of albums. Admiring the art work of the record sleeves, opening the gatefolded covers and reading the words. Then you’d go to the counter to ask to listen to some tracks and enter the little booths with headphones, whilst the guy serving would load your choices on the the record deck for the pleasure of your eardrums. O the afternoons I’ve spent passing pleasant hours doing that.

Then, decision made you’d take your purchase home perhaps in a bag or under your arm, or on full show so that other could admire your fantastic taste in music.

Once I’d got my hands on the record player at home, I would slowly and carefully slip the vinyl out of its sleeve, carefully handling the black plastic disc at the edges and slipping it onto the deck. The needle carefully poised above said disc, I would then very gently drop the needle onto the first track. Then headphone on, I would lay on the lounge floor, open the gatefold and follow the printed words to every song.

Bliss. It’s just not the same.

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Mike and I visited this medical museum, housed in the old workhouse building next to St. James’s hospital in Leeds. It’s over 20 years since we last visited and its had a bit of a revamp. Lovely cup of tea and scone in the cafe before we even started. The ticket will enable us to visit as many times as we want in the next year. There’s a lot to see and take in. The workhouse became a military hospital during the first world war. What I found particularly interesting was the history of the health of the inhabitants of Leeds and how it has advanced. Anybody who wants to go back to the “good old Victorian Britain” needs their head examining!

Wales has the best castles! We spent a few hours exploring this one – the largest in Wales.

This medieval fortress was built mainly between 1268 and 1271 by Gilbert de Clare. Known as Gilbert ‘The Red’ because of his red hair, denoting his Norman heritage, he built the castle to take control of Glamorgan and to prevent the Welsh Prince Llewellyn ap Gruffudd from achieving his southward ambitions.

The design of the castle is based on a concentric ring of walls, something not seen in Britain before. It also has an extensive ring of water defences and huge gatehouses. This mammoth stronghold remains a striking testament to the Anglo-Norman domination of the area.

Though the focus of many Welsh attacks, Caerphilly Castle has remained a formidable fortress and perhaps one of the greatest strongholds of all-time. Even the efforts of Oliver Cromwell’s roundheads failed to break the Castle’s boundaries, though they did leave a rather remarkable scar – the famous leaning tower, which has leaned 3m out of the perpendicular since 1648.

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Above is the link which will take you to the official website of Cardiff Castle if you are interested in it’s history. Below are photos that I took on my visit with my iPhone 6+.

It has to be one of the best castles I have visited. It developed from an old roman fort, to the Motte and Bailey castle in the middle, with the more recent walls encompassing it and the medieval style 1866 update of the castle lodgings. The double outer walls allow passageways within which were used as air raid shelters during the second world war.

Fabulous views from the top of the old castle and luxurious rich furnishings and decoration inside the castle apartments. Well worth the entrance fee.

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A friend and I got a deal to Cardiff for a few days this February. Its one city in the UK that I’ve never visited, even though I’ve been to South Wales for holidays a number of times. I was really impressed. I’ve always thought that nowhere beats Leeds for shopping, apart from London – Manchester comes in close – but Cardiff was brilliant. There a fantastic array of places to eat and drink. I reckon it has more lovely arcades than Leeds too. The photos below show the city centre and the dock area, which has been regenerated and where where the Welsh Assembly resides.

The first seven are in the city centre. The eighth photo is of a building in the dock area that reminded me of some of the buildings I saw in New York. Eleven and twelve are of the Welsh Assembly buildings.

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Had a lovely afternoon at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon. Really nice cafe/restaurant. Typical National Trust shop and entry price! I thought £13.50 was rather steep for entry to say the least. Very keen to get you to join the Trust but I will not ever do so whilst they allow FOX HUNTING on their land. It disgusts me!

In 1132, 13 monks came here to start a simpler life. Over 400 years later, when Henry VIII demanded the closure of the Abbey, the monks left behind the most complete Cistercian abbey remains in the country.

The abbey’s beginnings

The abbey was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks from St Mary’s in York. They’d grown fed up of the extravagant and rowdy way that the monks lived in York and so they escaped seeking to live a devout and simple lifestyle elsewhere. This was how they came to Fountains.

By the time three years had passed the monks had become settled into their new way of life and had been admitted to the austere Cistercian Order and with that came an important development – the introduction of the Cistercian system of lay brothers.

Introduction of the lay brothers

The lay brothers (what we would now call labourer) relieved the monks from routine jobs, giving them more time to dedicate to God rather than farming the land to get by. It was because of the help of the lay brothers that Fountains became so wealthy through wool production, lead mining, cattle rearing, horse breeding and stone quarrying.

“Idleness is the enemy of the soul. For this reason the brethren should be occupied at certain times in manual labour and at other times in sacred reading.“

– From St Benedicts Rule

It wasn’t all plain sailing

Bad harvests hit the monks hard and they also had to deal with raids from the Scots throughout the 14th-century, which led to economic collapse. This was only made worse by the Black Death which struck the country in 1348.

Despite its financial problems, the Abbey remained important. The abbacy of Marmaduke Huby (1495 – 1526) marked a period of revival and the great tower built by Huby symbolises his hope for the Abbey’s future.

The Dissolution

The Abbey was abruptly closed down in 1539 in the Dissolution of the Monasteries ordered by Henry VIII, and the abbot, prior and monks were sent away with pensions.

Fountains Abbey today

The estate was sold by the Crown to a merchant, Sir Richard Gresham. It remained in private hands until the 1960s, including William and John Aislabie who designed Studley Royal water garden of which the abbey became an integral part of. The National Trust bought the estate from the West Riding County Council in 1983.

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Had an absolutely fabulous day at Studley Royal Deer Park. The weather was perfect. Cool and autumnal but brilliant sunshine. Did a four mile circular walk taking in beautiful views, plenty of deer, birds, water and awesome trees.

I originally went hoping to see some rutting deer, but all was quiet. It looked like all the herds were already established. I think rutting is at its height in October, so maybe I was too late. I did get some nice photos though, including a white hart.

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These are the three best images I got from watching the amazing spectacle of Atlantic salmon leaping up Stainton Force in Yorkshire. They were taken with my iPhone. Not the best photos but just glad to capture something of what I witnessed.

Apparently starting their journey around October, these mighty fish swim from the Atlantic Ocean, some from as far afield as North America, up rivers to their spawning grounds in order to lay eggs and have them fertilised by the males. They traverse many objects and falls of great heights. As they jump you see their tails flipping away, I suppose to gain hight. Some falls have man made ladders in order to help the salmon on their way, such as at Pitlochry.

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I have been watching Wimbledon since I was a kid. My mum played tennis when she was younger and my dad often took my brother and me to play at the local tennis courts. But my memory only goes back to 1977 when at college we watched Virginia Wade win the ladies championship. Since which time I have watched every year. I love rugby league and enjoy football but To me tennis is the ultimate sport.

The players have to be amazingly fit both mentally and physically and have incredible skills with racquet and ball.

It is gladiatorial . Two opponents in an arena that holds thousands of spectators so close you could touch them. Two opponents in pitch battle for hours on end. It is such a mentally intelligent game played in such a sporting way. Spectators that may be routing for one player but recognise and appreciate skills of the opponent.

You may hear the occasional frustrated expletive but none of the foul mouthed yobs who scream at players and referees in other popular sports.

Have enjoyed other ATP tours but love grass. Its fast and unpredictable.

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Its an area of Britain I’ve only just discovered and I love it. Totally unspoilt so far.

From Carnforth in the south to Milnthorpe in the north, Morecambe bay to the west and the A6 being the border east.

If you love wildlife, birds, walking, spectacular scenery, peace and quiet, this is the place to go.

Morecambe bay is stunning and these pictures don’t do justice to its vastness.

I’ve visited twice now and will return many times, having found a brilliant caravan club CL site. When we arrived the first time there were deer running in far fields. We’ve seen an osprey and curlews from our caravan pitch.

Arnside is one of the places time forgot. It has two pubs with great beer and food. Great views, a railway station and plenty of nice walks. What more could you want Its lovely. Oh and location is recently for where Nick from Coronation Street got stuck in quicksand. You can cross Morecambe Bay from Arnside to Grange Over Sands at the North side, but at your peril if you do so without a guide to show you the way to avoid the quicksand.

This walk up Wharton Crag gave some fabulous views of the whole of Morecambe bay . It was also here at the start of our walk that we saw peregrine falcons nesting in the disused quarry.

Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is nearby and is well worth a visit. Highlights for us when we went were Mash Harriers and a heron eating an eel, which was quite a task.

We visited Heysham on the coast just below Morecambe and found this really interesting chapel.

As for Morecambe, lets just say I’d give it a miss. I know they are trying to regenerate the place but it is pretty much dead. Had to have a photo with Eric though.

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